IMEECUEIC, STAJSnVIC, AND PLUMBIC ETHYLS. 
421 
with mercuric ethyl into a glass tube. As scarcely any action was observed, the tube 
was sealed without heating the contents. After the lapse of five or six hours, a volumi- 
nous grey and spongy-looking mass was formed, which, from circumstances happening, 
was not immediately examined. The tube was left undisturbed in a cupboard for a week, 
at the expiration of which time, it suddenly burst and scattered the contents, which 
spontaneously ignited, and burnt so strongly, that some neighbouring woodwork was set 
on fii-e. 
In another experiment one part of sodium was placed in a tube with five parts of 
mercuric ethyl. The mouth of the tube was ch-awn at the blowpipe into a capillary tube, 
the point of which was placed under a jar over mercury. If the temperature be low, 
gas IS given off very slowly, and appears to cease when the grey sponge is formed. If, 
howe\ei, a gentle heat be applied, a powerful rush of gas is produced, which again slackens 
on cooling the apparatus. The first portion of gas was allowed to escape, as being 
mixed with atmospheric air. It did not fume, but gave a white flame when ignited. 
Bottles were filled with the gas both at the commencement and towards the close of the 
disengagement, when the action became more moderate. On a supposition that the gas 
might contain ethylene, portions were subjected, in a graduated tube, to fuming sulphuiic 
acid, introduced by means of a coke ball. The acid fumes were afterwards removed by 
a ball of fused potash. 
First sample. 
Second sampl 
Corrected volume of gas .... 
I. II. 
III 
74-14 74-24 
73-24 
After absorption by H SO 4 &c. . . 
48-63 48-63 
10-56 
Volume of ethylene 
25-61 25-61 
62-68 
Gas transferred. 
Corrected volume 
45-19 42-23 
+ Oxygen taken 
238-71 260-23 
4- Air taken .... 
411-10 416-80 
After explosion 
292-60 308-10 
After absorption by KO .... 
206-38 225-98 
Total of oxygen taken 
229-66 250-80 
Total of oxygen burnt 
159-53 148-59 
Carbonic acid formed 
86-22 82-12 
One volume of gas therefore consumed' 
159-53 „ 
in first experiment 
[ 45-19 — vols. of 
oxygen. 
and produced 
86-22 
45-19 — 1‘91 vol. of carbonic acid. 
One volume of gas also consumed in'! 
148 59 „ J,., 
second experiment 
^ 42-23 of 
oxygen. 
and produced . ^ 
^ 82-12 
42-23“^*^^ vol. of carbonic acid. 
3 K 
MDCCCLIX. 
